Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame"
Text: Isaiah 30:3
THE SUPPOSED STRENGTH OF PHARAOH
Egypt in ancient times was greatly feared by many or admired by others. The Pharaoh depicted himself as a living deity. His army was the most powerful compared to many other nations in the vicinity. But was Pharaoh all that strong?
“Therefore the strength of Pharaoh
Shall be your shame,
And trust in the shadow of Egypt
Shall be your humiliation.
For his princes were at Zoan,
And his ambassadors came to Hanes.
They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them,
Or be help or benefit,
But a shame and also a reproach.”
Isaiah 30:3-5
1. Judah believed in the strength of the Pharaoh rather than in God.
2. This trust in the strength of the Pharaoh would result in their shame.
a) Shame
Judah would be ashamed that it trusted in Egypt.
b) Humiliation
Judah would also suffer humiliation.
c) The Assyrian invaders would crush Egypt.
d) All the nations who sought the strength of Egypt would be severely punished by the mighty Assyrians.
3. Judah’s secret plans.
a) The king had sent his princes and ambassadors.
b) Zoan was an old city of Egypt.
c) Hanes is not as well identified.
d) But the king’s ambassadors had been secretly sent to make an alliance with Egypt.
4. In the end.
a) Egypt could not help Judah.
b) Judah would suffer both shame and reproach for trusting
in Egypt’s supposed strength.
c) Egypt was unable to benefit Judah in any way.
d) It could barely protect its own people!